CHL Eye on Awards: Defenceman of the Year
Deciding who will be the recipient of this year’s Superstore CHL Defenceman of the Year Award could come down to the closing weeks of the regular season, with a handful of blue-liners aiming for the honour. Among the top competitors are three players from the WHL, three from the QMJHL, and four from the OHL, all of whom are exceeding a point-per-game pace:
Josh Brook (Moose Jaw, WHL) – 46 GP, 14 G, 45 A, 59 Pts, 1.28 Pts/GP
The Warriors blue-liner has been a frequent offensive contributor from the back end this season, firing at a rate that ties him for tops in productivity with Chiefs’ defenceman Ty Smith. Brook has also chipped in 14 goals, including eight on the man advantage, which leads the Western Hockey League. A second-round pick by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Manitoban is competing in his fourth season with Moose Jaw. After producing three goals and 29 assists last year, Brook is far ahead of those totals in 2018-19. His top performance came earlier this month when he picked up two goals and two assists for four points in an overtime win against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Ty Smith (Spokane, WHL) – 46 GP, 6 G, 53 A, 59 Pts, 1.28 Pts/GP
A first-round selection by the Devils in last year’s NHL Draft, Smith has given the New Jersey organization lots to cheer about this season. The Lloydminster, Alta., native has seen a healthy increase in his game-to-game production from last year with the Chiefs, when he finished with 14 goals and 59 assists for 73 points in 69 games, good for second spot among all WHL defenders. The former first-overall pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Smith has been a steady producer throughout the 2018-19 campaign. His season-high performance came in early January when he collected four assists versus the Kootenay ICE.
Mac Hollowell (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL) – 52 GP, 22 G, 44 A, 66 Pts, 1.27 Pts/GP
While Hollowell’s top priority is defending the opposition, he’s also no stranger to finding the back of the net himself, as the Greyhounds blue-liner leads the entire CHL circuit with 22 goals. The Niagara Falls, Ont., native, who finished last season with 56 points in 63 games, is currently riding a five-game point streak, including one goal in three-straight outings to go with five assists. A fourth-round pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in last year’s NHL Draft, Hollowell impressed earlier this month when he scored a natural hat-trick to mount a 3-2 comeback victory in overtime against the Oshawa Generals.
Jared McIsaac (Halifax, QMJHL) – 42 GP, 14 G, 38 A, 52 Pts, 1.24 Pts/GP
From defending his own end to providing plenty of offensive punch, the Mooseheads rearguard is a threat in all areas of the ice. This year, he’s already eclipsed last season’s totals of nine goals and 38 assists, despite playing in 23 fewer games, while he’s also proven valuable in finding the win column, as on three occasions the Detroit Red Wings prospect has netted the game-winning goal for Halifax, a figure outpaced by only two QMJHL defencemen. The native Nova Scotian is currently riding a six-game point streak in which he has collected three goals and seven assists for 10 points, while he has also picked up at least one point in 13 of his past 14 appearances.
Ryan Merkley (Peterborough, OHL) – 51 GP, 11 G, 51 A, 62 Pts, 1.22 Pts/GP
The San Jose Sharks prospect has split the season between the Guelph Storm and the Peterborough Petes following a December trade, while he’s also continued to produce at a steady clip with his new club, with six goals and 17 assists in 23 games. The dynamic defenceman is incredibly dangerous on the man advantage, as his 28 power play assists lead the entire OHL. The Mississauga, Ont., product has caught fire in recent weeks, as he’s pieced together an eight-game point streak in which he has registered three goals and nine assists for 12 points. Merkley’s top performance came earlier this year with the Storm when he notched four assists in a single game against the Saginaw Spirit.
Nicolas Beaudin (Drummondville, QMJHL) – 44 GP, 7 G, 46 A, 53 Pts, 1.20 Pts/GP
There’s plenty of productivity when Beaudin steps on to the ice, as the Voltigeurs defenceman has increased his output over last season when he finished just above a point-per-game pace with 12 goals and 57 assists in 68 games. That performance led to the Quebec native’s selection by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of last year’s NHL Draft, while this year he has upped his scoring pace while also coming up with a plus-55 rating, good for top spot in the entire QMJHL. The 19-year-old is coming off a season-high performance in which he tallied four assists against the Shawinigan Cataractes.
Charles-Edouard D’Astous (Rimouski, QMJHL) – 53 GP, 14 G, 49 A, 63 Pts, 1.19 Pts/GP
The undrafted overager is giving scouts a reason for reconsideration this season as the talented defenceman has put up a QMJHL-leading 63 points for his hometown Oceanic. After finishing with 56 points in 59 games a year ago, D’Astous has already eclipsed those totals this season despite playing in six fewer games. His year has been powered by consistent contributions, including an eight-game point streak through mid-December which saw him put up three goals and 12 assists. That followed the previous month when the 20-year-old notched a four-point night against the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Evan Bouchard (London, OHL) – 33 GP, 9 G, 30 A, 39 Pts, 1.18 Pts/GP
Bouchard has had an abbreviated season with the Knights after beginning the year with the Edmonton Oilers and then spending time with Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Now back in London, he hasn’t missed a beat in following up on last season when he finished with 87 points in 67 games. The Knights captain has played a major role in his club climbing to the top spot in the OHL’s Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Oakville, Ont., native is currently riding his third seven-game point streak of the season, with the current stretch accounting for one goal and nine assists.
Bode Wilde (Saginaw, OHL) – 50 GP, 14 G, 43 A, 57 Pts, 1.14 Pts/GP
The American-born blue-liner has impressed in his first season in the OHL, collecting 57 points to stand second in Spirit scoring and first among team defencemen. A second-round draft pick by the New York Islanders in 2018, Wilde has pieced together a formidable junior campaign in which he has potted 14 goals, including five game-winners to sit tied for first among all OHL rearguards. Wilde quickly adapted to his new league, as he collected two goals and six assists for eight points across his first five appearances with Saginaw.
Dawson Davidson (Saskatoon, WHL) – 58 GP, 10 G, 56 A, 66 Pts, 1.14 Pts/GP
Like D’Astous, Davidson’s play this season has motivated talent evaluators to take a second look as the undrafted overager leads all WHL defencemen with 66 points. It’s an impressive uptick from a year ago when he collected 43 points in 69 games split between the Regina Pats and Saskatoon Blades. Given his point production, it’s not uncommon to see Davidson’s name on the scoresheet on most nights. While he was held without a point in his last appearance, the Saskatchewan product entered the contest riding an incredible 15-game point streak in which he tallied two goals and 24 assists.